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On A Water Break: Water Break Weekly – Burnout in the Marching Arts, Thanks, and Changes
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This week, Nicole (@o2bnpjs) is joined by Whitney (@dancerwhit) and Alicia (@aliciaoninsta2) for an episode packed with big announcements, fresh perspectives, and two exciting new voices joining the sidelines!
We’re thrilled to welcome guest clinicians Carlos Herrera (@hellocarlosxd) and Erik Longey (@itsspelledwithak) to the podcast! They each share their 32 Count Life Stories — from band kid beginnings to taking leadership roles in the marching arts.
🎧 After the break, Carlos delivers an insightful 60-Second Tech Block on preventing performer burnout — and opens up a bigger conversation about how we can better support all performers, not just competitors.
In Water We Doing, the team tackles:
- Why costumes without matching shorts are a movement hazard
- Why glasses on the floor are a bigger problem than you think
- Why appreciation needs to happen throughout the season, not just at the end
- Why it’s still so hard to find archives of Winter Guard performances
Finally, we wrap up with Gush and Go, where we celebrate: 🎓 Carlos graduating with honors
💼 Whitney starting her next adventure (and her Canva skills!)
🙌 Erik’s incredible experience on staff with Juxtaposition
If you’re reflecting on the season or looking ahead to summer, this episode is packed with heart, humor, and inspiration.
HOSTS:
🎙️ Nicole Younger – @o2bnpjs
🎙️ Alicia Sharp – @aliciaoninsta2
🎙️ Whitney Stone – @dancerwhit
GUEST CLINICIANS:
👤 Carlos Herrera – @hellocarlosxd
👤 Erik Longey – @itsspelledwithak
🎧 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts
📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube: On A Water Break Channel
📬 Email us: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
📣 Want to be a guest? Apply here
📲 Follow: @onawaterbreak
Sponsored by:
💙 Guard Closet | IG: @guardcloset
🌍 Peak Group Travel | IG: @peakgrouptravel
#OnAWaterBreak #MarchingWeekly #MarchingArts #Winterguard #ColorGuard #DCI #MarchingBand #Podcast #GuardCloset #PeakGroupTravel
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Host Welcome
00:00:00
Speaker
Hi everyone, welcome back to On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you and your friends are talking about at rehearsal on a water break. Today, you're gonna find out what made Whitney say. if you're going upside down, which is like pretty much a requirement now.
00:00:16
Speaker
Yeah, right. You can't not go upside down. All this and more on this week's episode of On A Water Break.
00:00:26
Speaker
Eight off the mat and go. Welcome to you On a Water Break. The podcast where we talk everything marching arts. Everyone, bring it in.
00:00:38
Speaker
It's time for a water break. Hey everyone, it's Nicole. This week we're welcoming two new guests to the podcast. So big hello and welcome to Carlos and Eric.
00:00:51
Speaker
Hi, how are you? We will get into a 32 count life story with both of them in just a moment. But before we do that, I need you to go and subscribe on your favorite listening app, but write us a review and share it with a friend.
00:01:04
Speaker
um If you have a question or a good topic to talk about, email us at onawaterbreak.com. podcast at gmail.com or find us on social media. You can DM us if you have a question.
00:01:15
Speaker
If you want to be on the show, ah let's see, we can even, we even have a form that you can fill out. If you want to make a video and then send it to us, you could even find yourself on the podcast at some point.
00:01:26
Speaker
um You can also check out the link in our bio. Now we're going see who's on the sidelines with us this week.
Whitney's News and Career Update
00:01:32
Speaker
Hey, Whitney, you look so comfortable. I am in my room away from all the dogs. So ah I can't step on my computer or ruin this podcast.
00:01:43
Speaker
So little birdie told me that you recently had some big news come up. Do you care to share? I'm pregnant. No, I'm just kidding. We all knew that was a lie. I don't know why I did that.
00:01:56
Speaker
gasped so hard.
00:02:01
Speaker
Yes. I am leaving around Rock High School. Yeah. Should I applause here? feel like maybe. I think so. I'm like, You've accomplished so much in five years with that school. And honestly, the nation knows how much you saved that program.
00:02:21
Speaker
So real, for real, good job. Like this is literally you are tying up a neat package at the end of that chapter. and there's a nice purple one waiting for you to open up again.
00:02:36
Speaker
You passed it to me and now I'm going to pass it to somebody else. Maybe and we'll see. Passing the mic. Yep.
00:02:47
Speaker
It's key. Amari was supposed to be with us today, um but he's
Guest Experiences and Journeys
00:02:52
Speaker
having some issues. So he might be coming into rehearsal a little late. He's also a little newbie, little thing. But Alicia, have you slept since your two-year tour with WGI?
00:03:05
Speaker
Barely. It was... ah was exhausted by the end of percussion week, but... It was it was a blast. But yeah, two weeks of WGI back-to-back was rough, let me tell you.
00:03:19
Speaker
You know, everybody was like, oh, you only live 45 minutes away. Why don't you come back? And I was like, I don't think so, y'all. um No. and I will say I really, really, really enjoyed Percussion Week.
00:03:29
Speaker
Like, so much more than I thought I was. I was driving up and I was like, why did I commit to this? Yeah. But I really loved it. so Get in there and get in. It's just so straight. They're just so straight.
00:03:41
Speaker
the The energy. They're like. Cis white man. i mean that That is the energy. They're all just so cool. And just you know walking around. and Nothing serious.
00:03:53
Speaker
But everything's serious. yeah They don't dress up for finals. That was the biggest disappointment. I saw two girls that were dressed up. And I literally yelled across the parking lot at them. Because was awesome.
00:04:04
Speaker
but look great thank you i did i was like yes finals outfits that's awesome yeah all right so we have two new guests like i said earlier and so we have carlos herrera hello hello hello everyone sorry shake it out buddy you're okay it's his first performance nerves right
00:04:33
Speaker
Oh, goodness. And we also have but Eric Longhi. Hello. Hello, everybody. So, y'all, we do this thing. It's like a game, but it's more to our benefit than yours.
00:04:46
Speaker
um It's called the 32-count life story. So we give you 32 counts on the Met. and You're in, and you have to tell us your whole life story from birth to today. I'm kidding. Carlos looks really good for wealth.
00:04:59
Speaker
Yeah. Put as much in there as you possibly can. So, Carlos, you're going to be first. We'll give you eight off the Met and then you're in, okay? all right Hello, my name is Carlos. I am from Los Angeles, California. I started as a bando in sixth grade playing the clarinet. and once I got to high school, joined jazz band and theater band and pep band and did the trombone and clarinet.
00:05:25
Speaker
actually didn't start Color Guard until Winter Guard in my junior year. under Michael Costner and Mike Gorilla. And so that was really, really fun. And then I did um drum corps on the West Coast with a Pacific Crest ah for a summer. And then I did four years at Blue Devils.
00:05:44
Speaker
I did three years at Fantasia and I did three years at the RCC marching band. I spent a few years just going back season to season like back to back to back to back and wore me out a little bit but also uh and uh lit my fire to continue going after i aged out i moved to texas and i marched cyprus independent and i taught uh and it was really really cool really fun experience there um from there i went and did bush gardens for a summer which was really cool for me and so then i moved to indiana march for cincinnati for two years
00:06:18
Speaker
and I packed my bags and moved to Florida. And then I taught here at Flanagan um and then started, helped Nick and Michelle start Relentless. um And then I marched Relentless.
00:06:32
Speaker
And after the pandemic, I went back to school. And now I graduate and about next week, literally graduate next week with my bachelor's in recreation and sports management, um which kind of introduced me to a whole and new different world of Color Guard. and um inspired me to give back to the community in a different way.
00:06:51
Speaker
That was more than just 5, 6, 7, 8 and more than just like the coach and and ah being on the admin and operations side of things is really fulfilling to me um because it's more than just about helping your one team or your one student. Now you're affecting and inspiring every student that you see and every student that comes by. So on this past year, this past Excuse me.
00:07:14
Speaker
This past season, I worked as a contest director for our circuit and I had the most amazing time. ah So I'm really looking forward to do that ah next year and put my education to good use.
00:07:28
Speaker
Wow. Okay. 4,000 count story.
00:07:34
Speaker
whole flag feature story. say Did you see that color change? Right. They have misunderstood the assignment. No, I'm just kidding. yeah I just had to, this is my one shot to just, you know, tell the world. So here it is. I just said it all. Well, that's so good.
00:07:52
Speaker
I was about to say, Alicia, did you cut it off early or something? then It seemed like the, like, it sounded like it was like. ah She knew he wasn't going to say it 32. So she cut it off.
00:08:02
Speaker
Right. I was like, I think 16 counts. And then I'll write, I was like. I was like, oh. Like when they turn the music off at the Oscars. Like, don't turn the music on. Yeah.
00:08:14
Speaker
um wo All right, Eric. Let's see if we we can get it in here. We can get it in here. All right. Oh, we can do this. 32 counts. Oh, hold on. Stop. Go ahead. Yeah, we're going to do it again. 32 counts and then we're in. Sorry. Eight counts and then you're in.
00:08:30
Speaker
There it is. Okay. Okay, so very similar to Carlos. I was a band kid, so I played saxophone all throughout high school and college, at Sycamore High School in Pultonview, Tennessee, and at the University of Tennessee.
00:08:43
Speaker
And marching only done winter with Sycamore High School, Eclipse, Attraction, where I met Alicia, Black Diamond Independent, Lexus, and Juxtaposition. And teaching-wise, jumped around to different schools between Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.
00:08:59
Speaker
Look at you. You ruined it too. Attraction? I've never heard of this group. Yeah. When, where, why? it was in Knoxville, Tennessee.
00:09:11
Speaker
okay. They were only in there for about two years before they folded, but that's where I am met Alicia. Well, it existed for one year and then went away for like five years. And then we brought it back the one year I taught there, which is where I met Eric. And then they lasted one more year and then...
00:09:28
Speaker
Fold it again. not The director at the time was also the director of Seymour High School and was trying to build that program into open class. So he focused there, which was fine. But back when Eric was a baby.
00:09:42
Speaker
Yeah, a young'un. Yeah. And you marched there or you t taught there? I marched at Lexus and then I marched at Black Diamond for my age out and then I became a staff member.
00:09:57
Speaker
Yeah. Black Diamond, Marcus Lewis. Yes. Love that man. Love him. You know what? Polygard is such a small world. It's a big world, but it's so small. Okay. Yes. Now that we all know each other, but that we've gotten through that part. It's like getting to know you. Anyway.
00:10:15
Speaker
So we are going to go to commercial and then we will be back with a little bit more from our guests.
Travel and Performance Tips
00:10:22
Speaker
Hi everyone, it's time for your travel tip of the week with me.
00:10:26
Speaker
I'm Beth with Peak Group Travel. If you're doing a special performance on your next tour, make sure you contact the venue to be sure of everything that's included. Things like electricity, chairs, stands, lighting, and maybe even large percussion instruments might not be included.
00:10:44
Speaker
So make sure you check before you leave in case you need to bring anything on your own. Don't forget to like and follow Peak Group Travel on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to email info at peakgrouptravel.com when you're ready to start planning your next performance tour.
00:10:59
Speaker
This is Beth with Peak Group Travel and your travel tip of the week.
00:11:18
Speaker
Ready to elevate your travel game? Welcome to Peak Group Travel, the ultimate adventure creators. Whether you're planning an unforgettable class trip, a once in a lifetime parade experience for your marching band, or a choir tour full of memorable performance venues, Peak Group Travel handles it all so you can focus on making memories.
00:11:35
Speaker
From breathtaking international destinations to amazing adventures right here at home, Peak Group Travel customizes every journey to your vision. We're not just planners, we're your partners for the trip you want for your students.
00:11:48
Speaker
Our online registration portal makes managing your pre-trip experience smooth and convenient. We even collect your payments if you'd like. Picture it. Effortless planning, unmatched experiences, and smiles that last long after the journey ends.
00:12:02
Speaker
That's the Peak Group travel difference. And if you choose to partner with Peak on your next tour, and you mentioned that you heard about us on the On a Water Break podcast, you'll earn $100 trip credit. Discover why groups everywhere trust Pete Group Travel.
00:12:14
Speaker
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and be sure to visit PeteGroupTravel.com today. You pick the date and we'll make it great. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Guard Closet was founded as a consignment shop in 2000.
00:12:27
Speaker
Since then, it has grown to become your one-stop shop for the marching arts. Do you need consignment uniforms and flags for your color guard, marching band, or drum line? We have thousands of sets of consignments in stock and ready to ship.
00:12:41
Speaker
Do you need show design and custom choreography? Our designers have years of experience in the marching arts. Do you need to sell your items and clear out your storage areas? We take in more than 600 sets of consignments each year and return hundreds of thousands of dollars to our consignors for their sales.
00:12:59
Speaker
Do you need to have your students order shoes, gloves, and other equipment? We can set up a microsite for easy student ordering of a wide variety of items. Do you need custom costumes or flags?
00:13:10
Speaker
We can help get you great designs from our team through top vendors like Shoday Designs. Have you listened to our podcast on a water break? Weekly episodes and bonus content keep you entertained and informed with what's going on in the marching arts.
00:13:24
Speaker
For over 25 years, Guard Closet has been here to help. Check us out at guardcloset.com or follow us on social media.
Technical Discussions and Burnout Prevention
00:13:44
Speaker
Okay, so we are back. This is the segment where we are going to be calling the 60 Second Tech Block. So in this segment, this is where we have one of our guest hosts, ah clinicians.
00:13:56
Speaker
We're going to put them on the spot. I'm going to talk about something for 60 seconds nonstop. in a tech session for a topic that needs some serious attention after the last run or even season we just had.
00:14:09
Speaker
So our special tech this week has come prepared with three topics that they think they can talk about for a full 60 seconds straight. No hesitation, no pauses, just pure technical gold or should be.
00:14:23
Speaker
but This week, like I think we're going to throw it over to, you I don't know, Carlos. Yes. All right. Now you said the best topics were one, preventing performer burnout.
00:14:36
Speaker
Two, 27 points in space. ah Three, the sire wheel from the relentless prop or the relentless prop, the sire wheel.
00:14:47
Speaker
All right, everyone. What do we think that Carlos should talk about?
00:14:52
Speaker
I love 27 points in space. Yeah. Yes, I do And think that prop was fascinating. no These are hard though, because performer burnout so important. Whitney, what do you think?
00:15:04
Speaker
I think we should go with performer burnout. No, sorry, Whitney. 27 points in space, y'all? No, no. Actually important. Yeah. I mean, we just spent few seasons, so we should probably talk about performer burnout. Yeah.
00:15:16
Speaker
Carlos, can you save 27 points in space, though, for like next time you come on? don't have to save it. It's in there. so It's a part me. It's like my last year of It's 27 points in space. CJ just said, made sure.
00:15:31
Speaker
I can talk about it. Okay, everyone. So we have that topic. to I'm sorry. I was going to say 27 points in space. performing Preventing performer burnout. All right. So, Eric, do you have 60 seconds on your phone? Can you pull that up?
00:15:45
Speaker
Ready to go. Perfect. All right. So I'll say three, two, one. And then Carlos, you go. Three, two, one, go. I think that in order to prevent athlete burnout, well, color guard member burnout is differentiating, making a different, ah we need to start over.
00:16:08
Speaker
um You can actually do that because I can edit this part. So just here, I'll start again and just say three, two, one, go. Okay. All right, here we go. We're going to start now. Three, two, one, go.
00:16:21
Speaker
I think we just need to help athlete burnout. We need to differentiate our members between those that are there for sport development, meaning that they're they are to gain more skills and therefore the competition part of it. And those that are there for development, using it as developmental for sports.
00:16:39
Speaker
you know, hand-eye coordination or social skills or cultural skills. ah So I think that a lot of the time that people and members do get burned out is because they show up wanting to gain different kinds of social and cultural skills, but they end up being targeted and directed towards the competitive aspect of it, which is not what all members are looking for.
00:17:00
Speaker
There is no recreation part to ah color guard right now where people can just show up and do color guard without the competition part and aspect of it. So making sure that there is a difference between those two alleys and two avenues and knowing what student goes where I think would help with world-class long-term athlete development.
00:17:19
Speaker
That was kind a good dip. Good job. It's like you would just leave a whole class on that. Seriously, like I've never even like thought about the two being different.
00:17:30
Speaker
What? you know i That's why when I was learning about sport management in school, was like, this is color guard director 101 for sure. It's all about program management and all about knowing the kind of athlete you are working with because a lot of athletes, well while they do want to become professional athletes, some athletes just happen to be athletes because they're working on physical endurance or they're working on just ah mental stamina in some sort of some way.
00:17:58
Speaker
Not every athlete is looking for competition and not every athlete is looking to be the best of the sport or the, you know, So when I learned that, I was like, wow, that's color guard. I've taught so many students that are extremely talented and you want them to come back and do the thing.
00:18:13
Speaker
But they're burnt out getting cleaned and the competition part of it and gaining point. And I can keep going and keep going and talking about this. It makes me think a lot about those schools, though, that you see who are...
00:18:26
Speaker
but the top of the echelon or the top of the chain as far as like winter guard and marching band is concerned. And it's just like, dude, you're a sophomore, you know?
00:18:39
Speaker
And then by the time they graduate high school, they're just like, I'm done. Yeah. Well, and then how many parents have you met that said I, my daughter needed to do something. So here she is at rehearsal, you know, and she had no interest in color guard, no interest in going to the competitions or anything, but her mom still dropped her off and paid her fees. And guess what? She's on the floor and you know, and now couldn't find anything else. They didn't fit into anything else. Yeah. And now she's your four year senior that doesn't care to be there whatsoever, but because she's a senior, she's in your varsity guard and she's,
00:19:10
Speaker
there, you know, but is she really like contributing to the competition part of it? No, because she doesn't want to compete. She wants to do color guard for recreational purposes. So I think that we need to stop putting, in you know, our juniors and seniors and the varsity guards just because of their age.
00:19:27
Speaker
If they're there for developmental reasons, um using sport as a developmental avenue, then they should stay in the lower guard and then have their fun and continue doing what they're doing with the low stress and low pressure.
00:19:38
Speaker
But if we're just continuously going to keep throwing all these kids that are there for fun into the go competition right now, we got to win. but After their senior year, they're done getting yelled at. They don't do it anymore.
00:19:49
Speaker
And some people thrive in competition. Some people, i' so many of the students that I've taught thrive at, you know, being pushed and wanting to be the best and being There are those students that are meant for that. And there are those freshmen that show up and do fit that mold and absolutely throw them in the varsity.
00:20:05
Speaker
And then they're the ones that continue and they're the ones that come back and teach and are the student teachers and stuff. ah So I just think that and making those different differentiation between your members and knowing who is here to compete and who is here to just get better at something else, get better at life, get better at social, get better at friends, get better at, you know,
00:20:25
Speaker
Because Color Guard, outside of the skills things, being on a team, it teaches you a lot. Like I think about Color Guard in all of my daily aspects and things. Like if I know how to do something. If I know how to do something, it's probably because I learned it at rehearsal. You know, if I know how to act in public and if I know how to talk to other people or make connections or leave a good impression, it's because I know how do that at rehearsal.
00:20:46
Speaker
You know, so i I love everything that color artists taught me. And now that I've had this education, I look forward to the future and how I'm able take that and apply it and see if there's a different outcome to it. Because I i do truly believe that If we separate those students, that we would have a much successful season much more successful season, um especially mentally too. like How many times do we go to home after rehearsal and you're pulling your hair out and you're just so frustrated with how rehearsal went because one bad egg ruined it for everybody or there was two bad eggs and their drama and whatnot, but those were the kids that didn't even want to be there in the first place.
00:21:20
Speaker
But now we have partner work and this and that and cutting them is just a bigger headache. and you know like Yeah, no, that's great. Dude, that was a solid, solid 60 second tech block. And hopefully I think someone out there got something from that. And honestly, I think we just did. Because Eunice can really get a certification. mean, I kind of want to do a whole episode on that because we'll do Clearly Carlos can talk for a whole episode. Yeah. yeah But a 60 second tech block the techbook we don't want to end is such a good thing. So, one more applause.
00:21:57
Speaker
All right, so now we're going to switch things up a bit. I think it is time for everyone's favorite, What Are We Doing? What are we doing?
00:22:14
Speaker
What are we doing?
Critiquing Marching Arts Traditions
00:22:16
Speaker
All right, y'all, this is the part of the show where we let loose a little bit. Maybe not a lot, but just a little bit. And this is a chance to rant about something in the marching arts that doesn't make sense to you.
00:22:26
Speaker
ah It's very tongue-in-cheek. You can make fun of it a little bit. It could actually resonate with some people. So maybe it's a tradition that needs to... go, or maybe it's just a habit that performers seem to they can't break, but maybe it's something that makes sense to you. So think, uh, why are we even doing this or why haven't we been doing that? So whatever it is, let's talk about it right now.
00:22:51
Speaker
Alicia, what are we doing? okay I've been thinking about this one all winter. Now that winter's over, I'm going to say it. But listeners know, and Nicole, you know, I trial judged in movement all winter. And i have to ask, what are we doing putting our performers in dresses and then giving them floor work or inversions or rolls where those dresses flip up and expose the undergarments?
00:23:18
Speaker
That's where I'm at. and I would give myself applause for that, but... I don't want to be self-serving here, but I saw a lot this winter, little kids in these dresses and they like, you know, the very common, like you sit pretty and then you roll back and we point our toes and roll right back up with our equipment. You what I'm talking about? saw that many, many times where the dress is flipped up and I see various colors of shorts or underwear or whatever, and it's not part of the costume. And every I was like, this is This is underwear.
00:23:48
Speaker
Okay. It's not underwear like the traditional we think of, but it's a garment meant to go under something that we're not supposed to see and you're exposing it and it's not okay. So we just haven't thought about the undergarments and the way that they would look with this choreography.
00:24:01
Speaker
Yes. Dance shorts are so cheap, you guys. Yes. And it's so easy to find them in a color to match your costume and make it look like part of the costume. And if you're buying a custom costume, it should come with the built-in shorts.
00:24:17
Speaker
Agreed. And if you're not, then buy the dance shorts and attach them or something. and They need matching dance shorts. That's still a part of the costume, especially if you're going upside down, which is like pretty much a requirement now.
00:24:31
Speaker
Yeah, right. You can't not go upside down.
00:24:36
Speaker
It's a basic skill. is It is though. These are cadet guards. All right. Carlos, what are we doing?
00:24:47
Speaker
Why are performers still wearing glasses on the floor? oh What are we doing? is a good one. It is so dangerous. Yeah. First, like danger aside, i think that it limits performers going full out 100% with their full body releases.
00:25:08
Speaker
The amount of like releases that I stopped at the neck and just because they wanted to keep their glasses on or, you know, or their hair didn't want to flip over because they got on their glass. And like, it's to me, it's just it's 90% there without the glasses.
00:25:22
Speaker
I think that it would just... Yeah. And it opens up your face so much when you take the glasses off. Yeah. and there's no glare and it's dangerous. I'm, I'm with you, Carlos. This one, this one kills me.
00:25:36
Speaker
Cannot. You gotta get contacts or you need to not perform with them. One or the other, but no glasses. No. We had a kid at Juxta who wore glasses and i was just trying to figure out like how he could do it.
00:25:51
Speaker
And I saw his glasses and they literally had a hook going down around the ears so wouldn't like move at all. And it just like blew my mind. like, oh, that's why he, that's how he can do it with all the turns and lifts. Yeah, like one like accidents of, but you know, that's how dangerous. Oh, I know.
00:26:08
Speaker
Or one like tip just, oof. That. Or your flag silk gets stuck on the corner. Yeah, you know. flag silk used to get stuck in my bobby pins. I've had it yank out my nose ring before. It wasn't fun.
00:26:23
Speaker
But I would also, I did that Carlos sunglasses for outdoor guard in rehearsal. Like it used to not be allowed and I don't allow my performers to wear them. Well, actually. I make ah yeah i can I can understand that. I have to wear glasses now because I wasn't allowed to wear sunglasses at drum corps.
00:26:42
Speaker
um It damaged my eyesight. had blue eyes. So like, of course, that was going to happen. But we weren't allowed to wear sunglasses. Yeah, I make my kids wear sunglasses now because it's so damaging and the sun's not getting better.
00:26:53
Speaker
I have a friend now who's actually going through severe health issues because of all the drunk horror and sun in their eyes. So um I used to think like, oh, do you notice you're performing sun? You're not going to perform with glasses. Do you know, get over it.
00:27:09
Speaker
but after my friend's newly developed health issues, when I'm not going to disclose anything, it's extremely important that members are wearing glasses outside because, um, he is now, um borderline, you know, entering the blind area of, of, and losing his sight and stuff. And it was offered jump core and offer color guard and,
00:27:29
Speaker
So, which is meeting for a different time, for sure. i just, I want to advocate for wearing sunglasses the outside it's at all possible to avoid blindness.
00:27:40
Speaker
um Because that's not, that's not good. Absolutely. I appreciate the insight. I think you guys just totally changed my thinking on that. And my students will thank you for it. yeah
00:27:53
Speaker
I health is so important. yeah it is your eyes don't get better as you age you know no like oh my eyes are getting stronger yeah i mean and that's like another thing too that goes with like drum corps being outside and you know skin cancer could potentially be a thing like are there any studies out there that have like looked into damage of being outside for all those hours on us i don't know um but those are yes dermatologists study it often On all counts, we are over the limit.
00:28:23
Speaker
We are over the limit. Way past. One season of Drum Corps puts you over like a whole lifetime. Yeah. And when I was marching, I stopped wearing sunscreen, like as soon as my first can ran out.
00:28:34
Speaker
Like it was where I want, you know, I got that natural melanin. Like it's okay. Natural sunscreen. And you, sometimes though, I was, I have already, I have been so unburned. I have been, but also I stayed on. Yeah, no, we won't talk. That was bad.
00:28:49
Speaker
Okay. Whitney, what are we doing?
Appreciation and Challenges in Marching Arts
00:28:52
Speaker
it What are we doing not showing appreciation for staff members and members and just people, people activity and people that work tirelessly for us and um that do good work and just not, not showing appreciation.
00:29:13
Speaker
i think that that one's on my mind right now. A thank you, one thank you goes ah longer than like, here's a gift. Right. Or, you know, like, hey, just say thank you.
00:29:28
Speaker
Yeah. Or like, cause I always encourage my kids to do end of season notes to like whoever, whatever, give them at least right. yeah You know, staff members, parents, whoever helped you get through the season, your captains, what have you.
00:29:43
Speaker
And those mean a lot, but I feel like often the letters don't match their actions throughout the season, you know? And it's like, Thank you now, but like, why were you such a poop head during the season?
00:29:58
Speaker
why Why did you never say thank you? Why were you always rolling your eyes or like huffing around? You know, it's like, thank you for saying thank you, but what about your actions all day, every day?
00:30:11
Speaker
that That is a thank you. Like, be consistent. Be consistent. Say thank you more frequently. Especially to parents. And chaperones.
00:30:21
Speaker
Yes. I feel like I've seen a few groups out there. I make my kids say thank you to bus drivers when we get off. And like, anybody holding doors at shows, people in warm-up, say thank you.
00:30:33
Speaker
Thank you. like Yeah. yeah Eric, what are we doing? ah What are we doing about not having a secure place to watch Color Guard videos? I have gotten so tired of paying for subscriptions for things to only get like a finite window, see it or having to go on YouTube and put in like, definitely not so-and-so winter guard and going about that like random path to it just for like me to get really excited to find it after I cracked the code, just to see it being pulled down.
00:31:06
Speaker
you know I'm paying for subscriptions for it. And I would rather pay see a full history catalog rather than like a finite amount of time. Cause it's great for education.
00:31:18
Speaker
great to be able to like see some sentimental things. So unfortunately, one of my ah runs that I have, I can only find it on YouTube and it's a screen recording where after our flag feature, a text message comes down. This is not their best run and it swipes away. and so it just became this big joke. Like it kind of sucks. It kind of ruined that run. could The only video we have is that run.
00:31:40
Speaker
And just, no, it just really bothers me that like now that I've kind of had my eyes open to open class, because I made that jump from class to world, I've met more people that competed in open class and I want to see more and more and more of it, but there's nowhere to find it. It's such an anomaly of a class already.
00:31:59
Speaker
And I feel like as much as you can watch of it, there should be. And that's why I miss WDIA on demand. You know, when you could go in and be like, I want to watch this class open. And there it is.
00:32:15
Speaker
Yeah. So many times I've asked, like, have you seen this one from 89, 89, whatever? And I'm like, well, where's the archive? Like, direct me to the archive. I'll gladly go sit there and watch it. What was it called? Fan Network? No.
00:32:29
Speaker
it used It was Fan Network. It was some, like, yeah a Google Drive that somebody or Can Network. Yeah. We were just talking about Oh, oopsie.
00:32:44
Speaker
So here we go. All right. Everybody's got all that off your chest and now we are about to do some positive energy stuff.
Achievements and Season Reflections
00:32:52
Speaker
So welcome to Gush and Go's. Great job, everyone. your equipment down. Gush and Go.
00:33:00
Speaker
All right. So welcome to Gush and Goes. ah This is a part that you get to shout out something that's going on in your life, happening in your life, marching arts related or not. Maybe you're just excited about a performance, student success, a big success thing going on in your life, a life event, just something cool you want brag about.
00:33:17
Speaker
So no negativity here, just pure unfiltered hype. So who's got something to gush and go about? Carlos? Sure. yeah Well, I briefly mentioned this, but I'm just really excited about it because I quit and sacrificed all my jobs to go to school full time.
00:33:34
Speaker
And I will be graduating next week with honors. So I'm really, really, really excited about that. i am happy to tell you about that too, actually. Oh, I can't wait to see your pictures next week. I know everybody's going to be hyping you up.
00:33:47
Speaker
Of course. Yes.
00:33:51
Speaker
yes
00:33:55
Speaker
Whitney, what are we gushing and going? ah mury
00:34:01
Speaker
My gushing and going I'm looking for new jobs. So I don't know. Hire me. I like color guard and sparkly things and animals, but you could hire me to like teach kids.
00:34:16
Speaker
I'm pretty good at that, I guess. You've got like a graphic out, right? I do have a graphic out. Okay. Okay. I made myself a little little fire on Canva. I love Canva. God, I would work for Canva if I could.
00:34:29
Speaker
Well, why don't you just give yourself a shameless little promotion self plug right now? What can you do? i oh I can do choreography. I can do warm ups.
00:34:41
Speaker
I'll choreograph anything. But like usually I'm dance. That's usually my thing. But i can I can do whatever. i like cadet guard. So if you need help with cadet guard, i can do middle school guard. I can do that.
00:34:55
Speaker
Gosh, I don't know. make flyers and I design t-shirts and I'll do anything. i can post on Instagram for you. I don't care. i will order Chick-fil-A for your whole guard.
00:35:06
Speaker
I don't care. I'll do anything. I'll pick out shoes. but I would love to help all percussion units pick out new shoes. You probably just got a niche in there somewhere. so Yeah, I know. I really think I should just go into designing ah a good percussion shoe.
00:35:23
Speaker
I'm thinking about it. It's about what Dinkles. It's the Adidas. Adidas. All right. Eric, what are you gushing and going about? I'm going to gush about Juxta this year.
00:35:37
Speaker
was my first time being fully on staff. And, I just working with them all year. It's just been such a wild ride and they were just so hardworking and with the show they had this year, it was so physically demanding.
00:35:53
Speaker
And there was a split moment near the beginning of the season. I was like, I could March again. I can do this. And then we were going through conditioning and all this stuff. was like, oh, I'm retired and emphasis on time.
00:36:07
Speaker
But we are retired. They were just like the most humble and funniest and kindest people. And I've never taught in an environment like that, even though it's marched there three years.
00:36:18
Speaker
Just like if somebody happened to like snap at me, even though I didn't like really notice it, they made sure they came up to me afterwards and like apologized for it, how they acting. And I didn't even realize this. And most I was like, thank you, I guess. Like it's just, it's so weird to see like growing people.
00:36:34
Speaker
Yeah. People at that, that ah people at that caliber. It's usually a ah toss-up with how their personality is. And thankfully, Juxta, like everyone's just so kind. And that's why I know I called that place my home for so long.
00:36:49
Speaker
Yeah. Dude, I will tell you, that was the one show that made me audibly gasp. And not by watching it like I'm sitting in the stand and I'm watching it down here. I was like, I got in and Juxta had just started to perform so I couldn't sit.
00:37:03
Speaker
And so i was watching it on the TV and they did that part where they jump into the black fabric and I audibly gasped around people I did not know. and I was just, what? I was like, what?
00:37:18
Speaker
The joke of this season was that there was no props that year. And every time would come back, there would be more and more props. And we're like, oh, okay. And so it just becomes whole joke that there were no props in this year's Texas show. Fabric is prop.
00:37:35
Speaker
Fabric is prop. If it's not a piece of equipment or a tarp, it's a prop. That wall was so crazy. And definitely a shout out to Tiffany Culver for working so hard on that.
00:37:48
Speaker
manhandled that. It was crazy. Did she make the fabric? We had some volunteers and then Carla, who was on staff, one of the directors, she was there and sew it. And then Tiffany Culver, she helped with the logistics of it. Found out we had to put a lot more weights on it, more fabric, had to figure out how to keep it from not twisting it. And so we ended up not really figuring out fully until maybe the last month of the season.
00:38:15
Speaker
and so once every single time oh my gosh if you ever looked at the staff like as we got to that part we're all like please because it's like inside of itself without getting tangled yeah we had to fold it like fan fold it the fabric wow what but cool effects yeah totally worth it
00:38:42
Speaker
Hey, it's called gush and go, not gush and stay. Let's go. let Let's him go. Right. Let's go. You're dancing, Carla. I feel like we just sat around and we could be talking for a lot longer.
00:38:59
Speaker
And honestly, that's what this is all about. And I appreciate you all for being here. But I want to say thank you so much for a good rehearsal this week. Or should I say, since it's the end of the Wintergards season, thank you all for a great season.
00:39:11
Speaker
Yes. Yes. Yes. I can't believe that we did this and we finished. So I just want to say thank you to Alicia, Whitney, Eric, and Carlos.
00:39:22
Speaker
Eric, Carlos, I hope we see y'all again on here. If we call you, if you'll come on by. Absolutely.
00:39:31
Speaker
Swing back for a quick sip. Awesome. Thank you for having me. I had such a great time. Perfect. Thank you. So if you ever have a question or you have a good topic that you want to talk to us about,
00:39:43
Speaker
make sure you email us. It's onawaterbrickpodcast at gmail.com, or you can find us on social media. DM us if you have a question, or if you actually want to send us a video, you can also do that.
00:39:57
Speaker
We have a new form that you can fill out if you want to be on the show. go ahead and fill that out. And that's going to be in the link in our bio. um Let's see. And yeah. So one more thing before you know it too, we have all of these podcasts on YouTube as full length videos.
00:40:15
Speaker
So don't forget to go and check us out there. um Don't forget to ah subscribe to us on your favorite podcast listening app, write us a review, share it with a friend and follow us on social media at on a water break.
00:40:28
Speaker
And we'll see you at rehearsal on the next water break. Sure.
00:40:36
Speaker
The On a Water Break podcast was produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Rehm. The intro and outro music was produced by Josh Lida. To learn more, visit LidaMusic.com.
00:40:48
Speaker
And until next time, thanks for tuning